Wednesday 7 October 2015

What To Expect When Attending Your Mammogram Screening Appointment

Hi Honeys
Well today was my first ever mammogram or breast screening appointment.  I have to admit I was very nervous, to say the least, but as it turns out I needn't have worried. Which brings me to this post honeys, I wanted to write this in the dear hope that it might reassure anyone who might be getting themselves into as much of a tizzy as I did, and if this post reassures even one person it'll be worth writing. 

What to expect during your breast screening or mammogram appointment

My appointment was arranged for early afternoon and I was to attend at our mobile screening unit which was parked in the large car park of our local shopping centre.  This mobile unit is securely sealed, with the door being kept locked at all times. At the entrance there is a secure screened window where you press a buzzer to announce you've arrived.


One of the two female radiographers will come to the window, check your details against her list and then press the buzzer to unlock the door.  Only women are allowed inside the mobile unit. This is stated clearly on a sign on the door.  Once inside the door is weighted to close after you and automatically locks again.  The inside of the mobile unit is bright, comfortable and has three cubicles with a curtain on each for privacy. 

I was asked to go into a cubicle and remove my bra and to then put my top back on, which I did.  I then sat in the little seating area and waited to be called.   When the radiographer came out and called my name, we went into the screening room.  I was asked to remove my top which I did.  Now I'm not usually at all comfortable with standing about topless, I'm an old fashioned gal and don't even like being naked when I'm alone :) but oddly enough, and possibly because it is a sealed unit with only women inside, it didn't feel at all intimidating.  I was advised by the radiographer to tell them if at any point I wanted to stop and they would.

I had been told there would be four x rays taken, two from above and two taken from the side.  The screening machine is tilted into a different position for the x rays showing a side view of your breast. I was told after the radiographer had done both side views that she wanted to repeat them because she hadn't managed to get the skin under my arms.  I am a DD cup honeys so, not to boast, there is a lot of me to x ray :)  

So,  in total the radiographer took six x rays and the screening took less than fifteen minutes to complete, this included all of the Rosie wrangling - getting me into different positions on the screening unit.  Did it hurt? No, actually it didn't.  I had heard all of the old jokes about screening being equated to the slamming of breasts in the fridge door (eek!) and to be honest that freaked me out more than a little but honestly honeys, hand on heart, the having to be twisted into awkward positions to lean across the machine in the correct manner was more uncomfortable than having my breast compressed by it. 

Have you ever had your blood pressure taken? In my humble opinion, that is more uncomfortable than the compression of my breast by the x ray machine was and it only lasts for a few seconds. No time at all. I have arthritis in my shoulders and so the twisting and leaning actually made them ache and that's the only complaint I could possibly have, and I'm so not complaining. 

The two radiographers were really kind, very friendly and keen to put me at my ease.  The second radiographer was asked to come in and help because I have arthritis in my spine and shoulders and have mobility issues. She only came in to help me get into the rather odd positions the x ray machine needed.  This was such a kind thing to do and I was so touched by their thoughtfulness.

So, after all that worrying honeys, it's all over. I was told I'd receive my results in the mail in the next three weeks, the results are also sent to my Doctor.  God willing, I'll have an all clear, in which case I will be invited to attend for another screening in three years time.

There is an excellent short film, only a little over five minutes long, made on behalf of the Scottish Government, to promote the Scottish screening programme.  I would urge you to watch it and forward to anyone you think might be encouraged to attend screening by seeing it.  It follows the Scottish actress Elaine C Smith as she attends for her screening appointment.


I hope this has reassured anyone who might be a little unsure about what to expect when attending a screening appointment, or help anyone considering whether screening is worthwhile.  If you'd like a little more information, you can find an excellent page from the NHS here.  So, that's it dear ones, till next time, sending heaps & heaps of hugs always xx

Edit: There is an update to this post which you can read here honeys, it has links to downloadable PDFs with lots of helpful information xx 

8 comments:

  1. wish someone had written this a few years ago before I had my first! Glad to hear you went and did it, so important!!
    Hugs!

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    1. Heidi what a sweet thing to say!! Thank you! Part of me is glad I went I suppose but now I'm dreading the results appearing just in case :/ why do they have to torture us by having to wait so long? I was put onto a drug called methotrexate by my rheumatologist for the arthritis a couple of years ago. Never once did they mention to me that taking this drug would cancel out my life insurance! We had called to arrange to renew our policies and because I'm a spoonie I have to answer all of these health related questions, well one of them was about medications and he ran off a list and methotrexate was on it. He apologised and said not only did it mean I couldn't be insured but that he had to cancel my existing policy too. It was actually designed to be used as a form of chemotherapy but arthritis clinics use it to flatten the immune system, in RA it's the immune system which attacks the joints, well it also raises my chance of cancer among other things. So now I'm not even worth more dead than alive and have to worry about my funeral being paid for :/ Very depressing. On a lighter note, I loved your to do list post today, you've inspired me Heidi. It's a great way to help with time management too, one of my failings I'm afraid. Thank you so much for dropping by, it means such a lot to me, sending heaps of hugs honey xxx

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  2. Thank you for posting! The more we can demystify the process and encourage women to be proactive with their health, the better!! Glad it was a positive experience!

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    1. Hi Karen, thank you so much for visiting! I so loved your post today and wish I was so brave! What a joy it must be to be among the waves, you're an inspiration! I admire anyone who can reach for their dreams, I'm such a mouse hiding behind my books. I think you're awesome Karen. It really wasn't anything like as scary as I thought it would be. The screening unit doesn't allow men inside and they make everyone feel so comfortable and safe. I won't be so scared going next time, I'm just praying that it won't be for another few years. If I had a complaint it would be having to wait weeks for the results, it's very worrying. sending hugs Karen xx

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  3. A brilliant post - I've always though that mammograms sounded terrifying and it's really helpful to have someone dispel those worries.

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    1. Hi Vanessa, bless you and thank you for your lovely comments! I'm so glad this helped you feel a little more at ease. I can't begin to tell you what that means to me hugs x The two ladies in the screening unit were so sweet and so thoughtful, they said straight away that if I felt anxious or wanted them to stop they absolutely would. The actual x rays last no time at all, I promise it's seconds that the machine actually compresses the breast and its so NOT painful, and I'm a DD cup so you can imagine :) As I said above it was less uncomfortable than having my blood pressure checked, now THAT just about makes my arm pop off lol :) they take 4 xrays (in my case it was 6) and they last seconds each so you're in and out in no time. Nothing to it, I promise. Thank you so much for visiting, sending you heaps of hugs Vanessa xx

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  4. This is so helpful! I'm totally freaked out mammograms and thought it was a machine that flattens your breasts out and that sounded aboslutely awful and painful. It's funny how what we don't know scares us! So thanks for sharing this. I'm not sure about the difference of the health system in Scotland versus the U.S. but I hope I will be treated with kindness like you were when it comes time for me. oxoxo

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    1. Hi Heather, thank you! I was so scared and when my appointment was over I really did wander outside thinking "well, was that it?" :) I wrote an update to this post which has links to two PDF booklets to download you can find it here honey: http://rosieshappymusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/mammogram-update-and-helpful-links.html I won't be anywhere near as worried next time I go back for screening in three years time. It's fear of the unknown I think, I really was imagining the worst torture and yet it was over in just minutes, really a few seconds per x ray. Mostly they take 4 x rays but she did 6 for me and it was over before I knew it. Thank you so much for reading this, huggles always dear wee friend xxx

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